Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-05
MISUNDERSTANDING
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN MsYjR
W. G. CARRINGroE AND CITIZENS.
An Unsueoessful appeal for Clean
sweep Of All Sorts Of Bush
meas.

RICHMOND, June 3. 1881.
To the Honorable MAYOR, w. C. Carrington,
ard yojor John Poe, Chief Of Police,
hichmond, Va;
We, the undersigned, respectfully ask
Won 10 strictly enforce the Sunday law.
We want the streetcars, express compa-
mics, liyery.stables. ice cream wagons TO
cease doing business on Sunday. We also
wish YOU 10 notify drugstores that they
mu,t not sell anything but that which the
law clearly defines rs drugs the sale OF
cigars and tobacco In all Of It's forms to be
considered unlawful. Also, the closing OF
all c,gar and tobacco stores; not to allow
any Places Of amusement 70 be open on sun
day.
the following papers which appear e,Ss'v
Sunday-namely The Richmond d..
i ;;scs 1he Dolly Times, 1he Richmond
Hhig.
Witness our signatures TO this petiipn:
&. W. MCCAIN,
7O3 west Broad slfee.;
c. A. PULLING,
62l west Main street;
JONI DENZLER.
corner GilmeT and Marshall streets;
JOSEPH MEYER,
402 west Broad street;
WV. MEssERst uMIDT & Bro,
pa west Broad street:
WILLIAM II. Koss,
ia wet Broad street;
G.. HoLzGRoEF,
"a west Broad street, cOniectioner;
w. N. PARRISH,
Wholesale Grocer aud Liquor Dealer.
THE MAYORS REPLY.
MAYORS OFFICE,
RICHMOND, VA, June 4, 1887.
Nossrs. q. W. McCdHa and Others;
Gentlemen,-I recognize among your
! names some OF Our most liberal minded
| citizens, and therefore presume your Pc
tirion is designed 10 carry enforcement OF
| the Sunday law 10 such az extreme az to
make the law appear ridiculous and farrell
cal. Perhaps your move Is based on the
stopping OF lee delivery on sunday, ana IN
| that subject / will say tia, the ice-men
stoned Of their own accord; and il any
| Inconvenience results or any blame attaches
| IL is their own act and fault. TOey asked
| to be stopped, and declined to do It, bc-
cause 1t was not my duty or province t.
| decide whether ice was such Il necessity a
| to be exempt from the legal PROHIBITION OF
sunday delivery; but agreed, at heW re-
| QuCst, II they would 90 OH The following
Sunday end deliver a usual, would have
them reported to the Police Court to test
the question.
/ svmpathise with the hard.worked men
in that service, and applaud their wishes
for rest and church privileges, aud wish
some relief could be given them but no
court has decided they should stop Sunday
delivery, and no other tribunal can decide.
Perhaps you rest your action on Captaln
Epps recently reporting various lines OF
trace for Sunday violations. He Is one OF
our most conservative and dilieent officers,
and always discharges his duty fearleS'ly
and faithfully, and in bis action was guided
by the report made over signatures OF re-
spectacle and responsible citizens. Bat he
your motive what IL may, decline TO bh
the medium Of such 4 farcical construction
Of the design and intention OF aproper and
moral law as would make it ridiculous,
odius, and Purtanical.
honor and hold the Sabbath sacred, and
honor those who desire it, proper add rel-
sorabe observance, and will in all proper
ways enforce the Sunday law promptly and
vigorously when its violation is reported
and its viol9tor named, and the police Off.
GERS have each one Of them such instruc-
tons. IL any one OF them fails in his duty
be will have proper attention and punish
meDt il reported.
might rest my refusal to comply with
yonr request on the grounds it i not my
duty TO cODstIue violations OF sunday laws,
but TO have them reported 10 court 10 hear
evidence and decide. But will add that
Elany Of the things you ask to be stopped
have been so long and 50 universally al
lowed in all Christian communities without
objection or complaint that il | had the
power and right 10 cOnstrue tue law |
would at once dismiss objection to them A.
ridiculous.
In conclusion, gentlemen, lassure you ]
will gladly cooperate with yourselves and
all others 10 reasonable observance OF the
sunday law, and in any and all cases in
which you or others cOns;rue the law to be
violated yon have the right to report 1t 10
the Police Justice; o., II you give name OF
offender and witnesses to any police officer
It will be reported on your authority and
decided OF the Police Court.
II the moral ideas OF any man reyO.t+ at
an act which Ee thinks violates the sunday
law surely his morality and Christianity
should supply courage 10 report the ease
and be responsible for il.
Respectfully, W. &. CARRINGTON,
MayOr,